11 Days Maasai Mara and Samburu Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi and Transfer to Your Hotel

You arrive in Nairobi, where you are welcomed by your Verdant Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, you have time to relax following your journey and settle into the Kenyan environment. Your safari guide briefs you about the programme, the destinations you will visit and the activities planned for the coming days. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a short orientation around Nairobi or simply relax at the hotel. The evening provides an opportunity to enjoy your first Kenyan meal and prepare for the exciting safari ahead. You spend the night in Nairobi before beginning your journey towards the Maasai Mara.

Accommodation options in Nairobi:

• Eka Hotel
• Sarova Panafric
• Tamarind Tree Hotel

Meals: (Dinner)

Day 2: Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, you depart Nairobi and travel towards the Maasai Mara National Reserve, passing through the scenic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley. You may stop at a suitable viewpoint to admire the dramatic escarpment and surrounding countryside before continuing towards Narok and the Mara region. After lunch, you proceed to the reserve and begin your first game drive if time allows. The Maasai Mara is renowned for its extensive savannah plains and abundant wildlife, giving you opportunities to search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and other species. Your guide introduces you to the ecosystem and helps you understand the wildlife behaviour and landscapes around you. You later continue to your lodge or camp for dinner and an overnight stay in the heart of the Mara ecosystem.

Accommodation options in Maasai Mara:

• Mara Sopa Lodge
• Sarova Mara Game Camp
• Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Full-Day Maasai Mara Wildlife Safari

Today is dedicated to a full-day wildlife safari in the Maasai Mara, giving you extensive time to explore the reserve. You begin with an early morning game drive when temperatures are cooler and wildlife is often active. Your guide searches for big cats, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and numerous antelope species. Depending on the season, you may also encounter large concentrations of wildebeest and zebra associated with the annual migration, although wildlife movements naturally vary throughout the year. You enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated location before continuing your afternoon exploration. The open grasslands provide excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and observing predator-prey interactions from a safe distance. You return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and relaxation after a rewarding day in the wilderness.

Accommodation options in Maasai Mara:

• Mara Sopa Lodge
• Sarova Mara Game Camp
• Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Maasai Mara Wildlife and Maasai Cultural Experience

You begin the day with another early morning game drive through the Maasai Mara, exploring areas that may not have been covered during your previous safari. The morning light creates beautiful conditions for photography while your guide continues searching for wildlife along the plains, riverine areas and woodland sections. After returning to your accommodation for breakfast, you have time to relax before participating in a cultural experience with the Maasai community. You learn about traditional homes, livestock keeping, crafts, music, dance and the cultural heritage of the Maasai people. You have an opportunity to interact respectfully with community members and gain a broader understanding of the relationship between local communities and the surrounding wildlife ecosystem. You return to your lodge or camp later in the afternoon for dinner and another night in the Maasai Mara.

Accommodation options in Maasai Mara:

• Mara Sopa Lodge
• Sarova Mara Game Camp
• Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Maasai Mara to Samburu Region

After breakfast, you leave the Maasai Mara and begin the long scenic journey towards northern Kenya and the Samburu region. The drive gives you an opportunity to see how Kenya’s landscapes change from the green and open Mara plains to the drier northern environment. You pass through rural settlements, agricultural areas and towns as you continue northwards. Lunch is enjoyed en route at a suitable location, followed by continuation towards Samburu. As you approach the region, the landscape becomes increasingly rugged, with dry plains, rocky hills and vegetation adapted to the semi-arid environment. You arrive at your accommodation in the evening and have time to relax after the journey. Dinner is served at the lodge or camp as you prepare for your first full wildlife experience in Samburu.

Accommodation options in Samburu:

• Samburu Sopa Lodge
• Sarova Samburu Game Lodge
• Soroi Larsens Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Full-Day Samburu National Reserve Safari

You wake early for your first full-day safari in Samburu National Reserve, an area known for its striking landscapes and distinctive northern Kenyan wildlife. The morning game drive takes you along the Ewaso Nyiro River and across the reserve’s dry plains, where wildlife frequently gathers around available water sources. You search for elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and a variety of antelope species. Samburu is also associated with several specialised species of northern Kenya, including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. After a picnic lunch or lunch at your accommodation, you continue exploring the reserve during the afternoon. You later return to your lodge or camp for dinner, relaxation and an overnight stay surrounded by the sounds of the Samburu wilderness.

Accommodation options in Samburu:

• Samburu Sopa Lodge
• Sarova Samburu Game Lodge
• Soroi Larsens Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Samburu Wildlife Safari and Samburu Cultural Experience

After breakfast, you head out for another game drive in Samburu, exploring different sections of the reserve and searching for wildlife that you may not have encountered the previous day. Your guide helps you identify animal tracks, bird species and the distinctive vegetation of this semi-arid ecosystem. After the wildlife excursion, you visit a local Samburu community for a cultural experience arranged through the community. You learn about traditional Samburu homes, clothing, livestock keeping, crafts, music and dance while gaining insight into the community’s cultural heritage. The experience provides a valuable contrast to the wildlife activities and helps you understand the people who live around the reserve. You return to your accommodation in the afternoon and have time to relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Dinner is served in the evening before another overnight stay in the Samburu region.

Accommodation options in Samburu:

• Samburu Sopa Lodge
• Sarova Samburu Game Lodge
• Soroi Larsens Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After breakfast, you leave Samburu and travel south towards the Laikipia region and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The journey takes you through beautiful northern Kenyan landscapes, with opportunities to observe rural life and changing vegetation along the way. After arrival and lunch, you begin exploring the conservancy on a game drive. Ol Pejeta is known for its wildlife conservation programmes and offers opportunities to see species such as elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and rhinos. Your guide provides information about conservation initiatives and the importance of protecting Kenya’s wildlife and habitats. You continue with your afternoon wildlife activities before heading to your accommodation. The evening is spent relaxing at the lodge or camp and enjoying dinner in the peaceful surroundings of Laikipia.

Accommodation options in Ol Pejeta/Laikipia:

• Sweetwaters Serena Camp
• Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages
• Nanyuki Simba Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9: Ol Pejeta Wildlife and Conservation Experience

You spend the morning exploring Ol Pejeta Conservancy, beginning with an early game drive to take advantage of the cooler conditions and active wildlife. You have opportunities to see rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and predators while your guide explains the conservation work taking place within the conservancy. Depending on availability and the selected programme, you may participate in a conservation-focused visit that introduces you to wildlife protection and community conservation initiatives. After lunch, you continue with another wildlife excursion or selected conservation activity. The landscape around Ol Pejeta offers impressive views of Mount Kenya on clear days, adding a scenic dimension to the experience. You return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and relaxation. This day provides an opportunity to appreciate both Kenya’s wildlife and the conservation efforts supporting its future.

Accommodation options in Ol Pejeta/Laikipia:

• Sweetwaters Serena Camp
• Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages
• Nanyuki Simba Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10: Ol Pejeta to Nairobi

After breakfast, you leave the Laikipia region and begin your journey back to Nairobi. The route takes you through central Kenya, offering views of farmland, small towns and the slopes of Mount Kenya. You enjoy lunch along the way before continuing towards the capital. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you check into your hotel and have time to rest after the journey. Depending on your arrival time and interests, you may enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the hotel or participate in a short optional city experience. Your guide can also assist with any final arrangements for your departure the following day. In the evening, you enjoy your final dinner in Kenya and reflect on the wildlife and cultural experiences from the Maasai Mara, Samburu and Laikipia regions.

Accommodation options in Nairobi:

• Eka Hotel
• Sarova Panafric
• Tamarind Tree Hotel

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 11: Departure

After breakfast, you check out of your Nairobi hotel and prepare for your journey home. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time for relaxation or last-minute souvenir shopping before your airport transfer. Your Verdant Safaris representative transfers you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or another agreed departure point in Nairobi. You are advised to arrive at the airport with sufficient time for check-in, immigration and security procedures. As your safari comes to an end, you depart Kenya with memories of the spectacular Maasai Mara plains, Samburu’s distinctive landscapes, remarkable wildlife encounters and enriching cultural experiences. Your 11 Days Maasai Mara and Samburu Safari officially ends at the airport.

Meals: (Breakfast)